eastcoastgopher
Active member
The other finalist for the subheading was The Boomtown Rats but it doesn't fit as well with 18 gone.
I decided to create this myself, using robertearle's posts as somewhat of a template.
This team will look different next year. The biggest change on the ice is the graduation of Abbey Murphy, the program's all-time leading goal-scorer. She will be a very high PWHL pick, and will be joined in the professional ranks by Nelli Laitinen, Josefin Bouveng, Madison Kaiser, Sydney Morrow, and Jamie Nelson. Allie Franco also graduates, and third goalie Sophia Johnson will transfer in hopes of getting game action in her final season.
But the biggest story is behind the bench. It's now been ten years (and the entire runs for Murphy and Taylor Heise) without a national title. Seven years without a national championship game appearance. A season that fell apart quickly as soon as the Olympic break hit and ended with the Gophers' first-ever tournament loss to an Eastern team on home ice. And frankly, a program that has become an afterthought even while remaining a top 5 team in the country. So after 19 years, Brad Frost is gone. Boom May, who spent the last three years as the top assistant, is the new Head Puck Coach. There's a new group of assistants as well.
Somewhat surprisingly, every player who was expected to be on the 2026-27 roster will be on the roster even with the coaching change.
The senior class consists of forwards Sarah Paul (who missed most of last season with injury), Ava Lindsay, likely captain Emma Kreisz, and incoming transfer Ashley Allard, as well as defender Molly Jordan.
The returning junior class is starting goaltender Hannah Clark; defenders Chloe Primerano, Gracie Graham, and Carly Humphrey; and forward Kendra Distad. They will be joined by two transfers: defender Lauren Goldsworthy and Finnish Olympian forward Julia Schalin.
The sophomores are goalie Layla Hemp, defender Sydney Bailey, and forwards Bella Fanale, Tereza Plosova, Sienna D'Alessandro, Avery Hovland, and Olivia Kortan.
The fresh high school graduates joining the program are likely third goalie Payton Rolli, defenders Sloane Hartmetz and Katya Sander, and three forwards from the Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins program: Rachel Piggott, Maddie McCullough, and Adrianna Milani (who won't turn 18 until March).
There is still a lot of talent on this roster, particularly up front, though not having an obvious game-changer such as Murphy means that realistic expectations are the same as the last couple: a distant third in the conference. Only time will tell how quickly or if at all they can get out of that. The Apathy™ will continue until the play on the ice improves.
I decided to create this myself, using robertearle's posts as somewhat of a template.
This team will look different next year. The biggest change on the ice is the graduation of Abbey Murphy, the program's all-time leading goal-scorer. She will be a very high PWHL pick, and will be joined in the professional ranks by Nelli Laitinen, Josefin Bouveng, Madison Kaiser, Sydney Morrow, and Jamie Nelson. Allie Franco also graduates, and third goalie Sophia Johnson will transfer in hopes of getting game action in her final season.
But the biggest story is behind the bench. It's now been ten years (and the entire runs for Murphy and Taylor Heise) without a national title. Seven years without a national championship game appearance. A season that fell apart quickly as soon as the Olympic break hit and ended with the Gophers' first-ever tournament loss to an Eastern team on home ice. And frankly, a program that has become an afterthought even while remaining a top 5 team in the country. So after 19 years, Brad Frost is gone. Boom May, who spent the last three years as the top assistant, is the new Head Puck Coach. There's a new group of assistants as well.
Somewhat surprisingly, every player who was expected to be on the 2026-27 roster will be on the roster even with the coaching change.
The senior class consists of forwards Sarah Paul (who missed most of last season with injury), Ava Lindsay, likely captain Emma Kreisz, and incoming transfer Ashley Allard, as well as defender Molly Jordan.
The returning junior class is starting goaltender Hannah Clark; defenders Chloe Primerano, Gracie Graham, and Carly Humphrey; and forward Kendra Distad. They will be joined by two transfers: defender Lauren Goldsworthy and Finnish Olympian forward Julia Schalin.
The sophomores are goalie Layla Hemp, defender Sydney Bailey, and forwards Bella Fanale, Tereza Plosova, Sienna D'Alessandro, Avery Hovland, and Olivia Kortan.
The fresh high school graduates joining the program are likely third goalie Payton Rolli, defenders Sloane Hartmetz and Katya Sander, and three forwards from the Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins program: Rachel Piggott, Maddie McCullough, and Adrianna Milani (who won't turn 18 until March).
There is still a lot of talent on this roster, particularly up front, though not having an obvious game-changer such as Murphy means that realistic expectations are the same as the last couple: a distant third in the conference. Only time will tell how quickly or if at all they can get out of that. The Apathy™ will continue until the play on the ice improves.
